Project Management Degree Apprentice Review

Within the role I am currently in, I find it very good in giving me experience of what I will have to deal with when I am out of the apprenticeship. Given responsibility to manage a project from start to finish but still have the support from the team to help when a problem occurs

Since starting the apprenticeship I have learnt and developed on simple skills but it hasn't been as in-depth as I would have liked. From the start there has been a lot that we were told we could learn but still never had the opportunity, or the opportunity is only given to certain people and not offered to everyone

Most of the placements have been enjoyable, however the apprentice and the manager within have not made this scheme enjoyable. They are not support and when I have gone to them with a problem with a placement manager, they were very quick to dismiss it and not help me which made my mental health suffer.

Since being on the apprenticeship we have moved over to Portsmouth uni, whereas before out provider were Blackpool College. There were ongoing problems with the first provider, which were never resolved and seemed to be a theme throughout all the year groups, and since Covid has it, there has been not structure for how we are are going forward. Also we have an End Point Assessment coming up but our skills coach has not got in contact with us or knows what is involved within this

Within my placement I receive a lot of support with work, uni and the end point assessment. However with my apprenticeship manager I have not received any support at all, even when it regards my safeguarding. It has been noticed they only seem to help the same people but do not take time to see if everyone is coping, especially with the current situation we are in

Only been with Portsmouth Uni for 7 months but at the start they did go through how to access resources at home and online. Some lecturers did provide some drop in sessions, however I have found the student support who help with assignment work, dont always align with what the lecture wants to see

The qualification has helped me to gain contexts to how a project manager works, however I have realised it does not mean everything is how it should work. The general idea has been helpful when it is explain but the practical application is sometimes very different to what you learn. I have learnt a lot about how to work within a team and how to get people to work more efficiently, which has been a benefit

The apprenticeship and uni do send out webinars and conferences which we can join. These are majority APM so are useful to my career. There are sports team you are able to join and attend after work, but I personally haven't done this. There used to be social activities such as families days etc but due to Covid these have stopped at the moment

No

I do not think what you sign up for is what the apprenticeship offers. I think there are other apprenticeships out there where you will gain a lot better experience and have a lot more support. I feel like the apprenticeship talks a lot about diversity and inclusivity, but when it comes to it, they dont seem to care.

It is a very engineering based company, so an interest in defence and engineering will help to enjoy and understand the job a lot more. Even though uni is only 1 day a week, it still takes up a lot of time of your week with the extra reading and tasks to help with assignments.